Tutu — who received the Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful activism against apartheid in his native South Africa — told a conference in Fort McMurray Saturday the oilsands are “filth” that are helping to devastate the world’s climate and northern Alberta’s aboriginal communities.

But McIver, one of three candidates vying to become Alberta’s next premier, said Tutu was part of a “a parade of celebrities” trashing the province’s energy industry who need to better educate themselves.

“The fact is, our environmental regulations are as strict here as it is anywhere on Earth,” the Calgary-Hays MLA and former infrastructure minister told reporters following a Progressive Conservative leadership forum devoted to energy issues.

“Our companies do a great job. They have a pretty complete regime to monitor that and for someone to roll in here who’s famous and pass judgment in less than 72 hours, I think you really have to think about the credibility.”

The province’s oilsands have become the centre of international attention because of their large carbon footprint, leading to large-scale opposition and repeated delays for projects such as the proposed Keystone XL pipeline into the United States.

Environment Canada projects the country will miss its greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2020 because of the growth of the oil and gas sector, particularly the oilsands.

Former federal Conservative cabinet minister Jim Prentice — the presumed front-runner in the Tory race — first noted Tutu’s presence in his remarks to the forum crowd, though he did not mention him by name.

Prentice said Alberta has been continually “off-footed” on the energy and environment file and the province must become an environmental leader.

But he reiterated that the province would not act unilaterally and will only move on environmental regulations in concert with the federal and United States governments, a point echoed by McIver and Edmonton MLA Thomas Lukaszuk.

“We will need to see improvements in terms of oilsands performance on carbon emissions and we will see that. But we will only see it through the application of science and technology and sound regulation,” said Prentice, who was environment minister when the federal Conservative government agreed to emission reductions under the Copenhagen Accord.

Alberta’s current $15-per-tonne carbon levy on large emitters comes up for renewal in September but changes appear unlikely as the province waits for long-expected federal greenhouse gas regulations on the oil and gas sector.”

Lukaszuk, the last candidate in the race after filing his papers on Friday, told reporters he would push Ottawa to release the energy sector regulations.

But he said the existing carbon levy was working optimally and Alberta is leading on environmental issues.

Lukaszuk said a first-hand view of the oilsands would sway — or at least neutralize — critics of the massive resource operations and said he would be “thrilled to take Desmond Tutu to northern Alberta and walk him through the sites of the industry.”

“I respect his opinion. I think that we need to be cognizant that there are those of that opinion and I think we need to work harder to make sure that they are provided factual information and their opinion is an educated one,” said the former jobs minister.

Tutu appeared at a conference on the oilsands and treaty rights in Fort McMurray as a guest of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and a Toronto law firm specializing in aboriginal law.

All three Tory candidates said they see a need to work more co-operatively with First Nations on resource issues and touted their bona fides on aboriginal issues.

The Tory leadership came open in March with the resignation of Alison Redford as premier and PC leader over controversies about her expenses and management style. PC members will vote for a new leader in September while Premier Dave Hancock serves in the interim.

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